New arrivals create momentum – in more ways than one

“I’ve already run in so many different parts of Boden,” he says with a smile, showing a map on his phone filled with red lines from saved running routes.

He and his partner Annica have recently returned from an 80-kilometre ultramarathon in Lyon.

“We travel and run races all over the world,” he says.

But it is in Boden that their hearts – and their home – are.

“I love Sweden, the people and the mindset here. I’ve wanted to move away from the Netherlands, where I’m from, for a long time, and I’ve always dreamed of Scandinavia,” says Robert-Jan.

He is happy to try Swedish traditions and has both skied and run the Vasaloppet, and even tried fermented herring – though not at the same time.

A new running club

Robert-Jan and Annica train and run together frequently, and now they share their passion for running with other Bodens residents. Together they have started Run club sju. The name comes from a simple reason: Robert-Jan, who recently started SFI alongside his job to learn Swedish, is practicing the sj sound.

“The word sju (seven) is definitely the hardest one!”

The number seven is also part of the concept.

“We meet at seven o’clock, warm up until 7:07, and then run seven kilometres.”

Robert-Jan wanted to create an open and welcoming way for people to train together, and in just a few weeks up to 14 people have joined their runs. They have organised a Halloween Run and are also planning a Christmas Run on December 17.

“It’s completely free – we do it just because we think it’s fun. We start at Bodensia, right in the centre of Boden. We run around the lake or explore unfamiliar streets, but we always finish with seven kilometres. Sometimes we add challenges – if we see a red car, we sprint; if we see a yellow car, it’s ten push-ups – but never more than seven cars.”

He describes the running club as a way to combine physical activity with a social context.

“I also think it can feel safer for some people to run together and discover new routes as a group.”

Working at Stegra

When he’s not running, Robert-Jan has been working at Stegra since the summer. There, he is one of several people coordinating services and support for contractors on site.

“We have 53 nationalities at Stegra right now. Sometimes it feels a bit like organised chaos, as we say in the Netherlands – but that’s also what makes it exciting. There’s always something to do, and I can always help out somewhere. It’s all about communication and planning. When everyone follows the same working methods, things work. It’s quite amazing that this is happening here.”

He sees a future in Boden.

“For me, for Stegra – and for what they are doing for the world.”